Question

Not enough nipple openings?

Share

I just had my second child, and am experiencing the same problem I had when I was breastfeeding my daughter. When pumping, I can see multiple milk streams spraying out of my left breast. But, on my right breast I only see one spray (sometimes) and it mostly dribbles out. I have to pump (or nurse) twice as long on my right breast, and it never feels empty. Its like I have to push and force the milk out the openings. And it takes twice as long to feel any relief if I become engorged. Is it possible to fix this somehow, or maybe right breast just has fewer openings???? Could they be clogged somehow??

Mom Answers

If she was nursing directly, would you notice? Sometimes pumping makes us think too hard about things that would never matter if we were nursing directly. The short answer is, no, it doesn't matter at all, and there's no way to fix it, it's just your biology. Plugged ducts do happen, but they usually (not always) come with a small white patch of milk. If this happened last time, then it's unlikely that's the case. You'd also probably feel a hard part of your breast where the milk backed up.

This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

This site is published by BabyCenter, L.L.C., which is responsible for its contents as further described and qualified in the Terms of Use.